Ankle-brace and arch-support



F. TRANMER.

ANKLE BRACE AND ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, IQLQ.

Patented; A531. I5, 13%

mforneys.

UNITED STATES r grnnr OFFICE.

FRED TRANMER, OF GORDON, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EAL]? TO WILLIAMADELBERT HILLS, OF GORDON, NEBRASKA.

ANKLE-BBACE AND ARCH-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed June 6, 1519. Serial No. 302,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED TRANMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gordon, in the county of Sheridan and State of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Braces andArch- Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surgery, being a device serving at once bothas an arch support and an ankle brace. It is well known that a weak ordefective foot and ankle often need mechanical assistance for preventingthe ankle from turning and a support for preventing the arch fromfalling, and the primary object of my invention is to produce a unitarystructure which performs both these functions.

As to the ankle brace, the invention includes a peculiar form of pivotbetween its members, giving them great strength and at the same timeprotecting the ankle joint.

As to the arch support, the invention includes means whereby the weightof the wearer on a weak or falling arch is sustained directly from thesurface of the ground.

The invention therefore consists in details of construction with respectto both these cooperating features, all of which are set forth in thefollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of this surgical appliance attached tothe shoe and leg.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail through the pivot.

The drawings show the left leg L in dotted lines and indicate the anklejoint J, and also they illustrate a high shoe including an upper U, aheel H and sole S, and the usual arch A.

The ankle brace is made up of two stout metal elements respectivelycalled herein the leg member and the foot member. The former is a stiffmetal strip 1 to whose upper end at 2 is riveted a strap 3 for inclosingthe leg L, a suitable buckle 4 being provided for fastening the strap asindicated. The lower end of this member is enlarged into a disk 5 whichis cupped or concavo-convex as seen in Fig. 2.

The lower member 11 is also a stout metal element shown herein asstanding in alinement with the upper member along the inner side of theshoe, its upper end being enlarged into a disk 15 also cupped or madeconcavobranch 12 extending straight downward alongside the upper U andheel H and bent at its lower end 13 in under the heel, being preferablyformed into a foot 14 extending transversely of the heel and inset intoa recess 16 therein, and held by screws 17 or other appropriatefastening means. Thus the lower ends 18 of this member 11 bears directlyon the ground and has a considerable contact therewith if it becontinued into a foot 14 as shown; and as the member lies alongside theshoe and ankle and connects with the upper member 1 which in turn isattached to the leg, the structure affords considerable assistance insupporting the weight of the wearer, while the right-angular dispositionof the foot lat gives it ample contact with the ground and prevents thewearers foot from turning accidentally to the left.

The other branch 2 of the lower member is integral with the main branch12 at the point 20, and while the main branch extends straight downwardfrom the pivot the second branch or finger 22 preferably extendsobliquely forward from the main branch and may be made somewhatnarrower. Where it passes the edge of the sole it is bent as at 23, andits inturned end or tip 24.- extends beneath the arch A and is attachedthereto by screws or other fastening devices 27. It is possible that thethick ness of-the tip 2a will be equal to the distance of the lower faceof the arch A from the ground, and in that event the arch will bedirectly supported from the ground by the tip. But on the assumptionthat the heel is of considerable height, probably normal, andtheopatients arch has not yet fallen, it will be clear that it issupported by the finger 22, the finger in turn being supported by itsunion at 20 with the main branch 12, and the latter in turn is supportedwhere its lower end 18 rests on the ground and is held upright by thecontact of its foot 14 with the ground. Therefore, this structureproduces a serviceable arch support by amplifyingthe foot member 11 ofthe ankle brace, and a wearer who is doubly afliicted as first suggestedabove finds much comfort by use of the appliance.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: p

1. An arch support comprising a forked member one branch thereof beingadapted to besecured to a shoe so as to stand upright at the inside ofthe heel with its lower end contacting with the ground,l and the otherbranch extending from the first branch under and adapted to be securedto the lower face of the arch.

2. An arch support comprising a forked member, one branch thereof beingadapted to be secured to the shoe soas to stand upright at the inside ofthe heel with its lower end contacting-with the ground and bent underand secured across the heel, and the other branch extending from thefirst branch under and adapted to be secured to the lower face of thearch.

3. A combination structure for the purpose described comprising a lowermember centers of the cups.

constituting an arch support and consisting of an upright branch securedalong the inside of the heel and an oblique branch extending therefromand bent under the arch, an upper member attached to the leg, and apivot connecting said members.

4. A combination structure for the purpose described comprising a lowermember constituting an arch support and consisting of an upright branchsecured along the inside of the heel and an oblique branch extendingtherefrom and bent under the arch, an upper member attached to the leg,the contiguous ends of said members lapping each other and being cuppedopposite the ankle joint, and a pivot through the 5. In a structure ofthe type described, a foot member bent at right angles and adapted to besecured across the heel at its front edge, a leg member having means forconnecting its upper end with the leg, concave convex mating disks atthe contiguous ends of said members, and a pivot through the centers ofthe disks oppositethe ankle joint.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

'FRED TRANMER. [1 s.]

